OLYMPIA – Governor Inslee has signed three bills sponsored by State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood) into law since the Legislature adjourned on March 12.

Senate Bill 6690 repeals the preferential aerospace B&O tax rate and should stave off retaliatory tariffs on many trade dependent industries.

“When this issue was brought to my attention two months ago, the world looked quite different than it does today,” said Liias. “Obviously issues like international tariffs are going to take a back seat while the world focuses on defeating the coronavirus. Once we get the virus under control, a healthy aerospace industry will be vital to returning our economy to where it was before the outbreak. This measure will help us avoid retaliatory tariffs and give our aerospace-dependent companies and employees the best chance of success.”

Washington state is heavily dependent on international trade. Retaliatory tariffs could have resulted in tens of thousands of lost jobs in Washington’s aerospace sector and in dozens of other trade-dependent industries.

Senate bill 6493 allows the Cooper Jones Bicyclist Safety Council to continue its work to make roads safer for all users.

”The Cooper Jones Safety Council has provided important information and recommendations to improve safety of bicyclists across the state,” said Liias. “The council provides lawmakers with the data and expert analysis we need to enact policies that make our roadways safer for everyone.”

SB 5282 prohibits health care providers and medical students from performing pelvic exams on women without informed consent. Under the new law, a licensed health care provider may not perform or authorize a student practicing under the provider’s authority to perform a pelvic examination on a patient who is anesthetized or unconscious unless:

  • the patient or the patient’s representative has provided informed consent; or
  • the examination is necessary for diagnostic or treatment purposes.

An amendment was added by the House to allow health care providers to perform pelvic exams in certain circumstances where sexual assault is suspected.

“This seems like a pretty glaring hole in our patient protections,” said Liias. “We want to make sure, while this practice thankfully is not happening in Washington that we know of, that we provide this really important protection.” [Link to audio file from Sen. Liias’ Senate floor speech]

In total, Liias was successful in passing 11 bills in this short 60-day session. Additional Liias bills awaiting action by the governor include bills to ease regulations for building accessory dwelling units (SB 6617), boost youth voter participation (SB 6313), and expand financial aid opportunities for undocumented students (SB 6561).

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